McCartney's New Video Is 'Off the Cuff'

Singer-songwriter and actor Jesse McCartney chatted about his new video 'Body Language,' which features T-Pain. McCartney tells PopEater that the video -- which features a lot of behind-the-scenes and tour footage -- "just accidentally happened."

"It became this really fun intimate video," he adds. Jesse also talked about what it was like working with the hip-hop artist, who else he wants to collaborate with and how he stays grounded in Hollywood. Watch the Video and Read Our Interview

Tell me about your video Body Language.
It's kind of just off the cuff. It was one of those things that just accidentally happened. [T-Pain and I] were in Miami and we worked on the song together. We brought ... a hand-held, behind-the-scenes type video camera ... to just come in a shoot us working together in the studio, just really kind of cas[usal]. And it became this really fun intimate video that shows what it's like behind the scenes. And you know, we cut a lot of stuff, a lot of footage that I had taken myself on the road last year, touring, performing that song live in front of the fans. The song live is just explosive and it makes a really entertaining video. And we just sort of put that all together and it's just a montage of a lot of fun bits.

Did you like working with T-Pain?
T-Pain obviously is one of the biggest singer-songwriters ... today. He's very talented and has a firm grip on what the fans want to hear. I think the two of us together ... is a great collaboration and [it] ended up becoming a really fun song for the end of 2009.

You describe this video as a behind-the-scenes-look. But you've done more traditional, narrative music videos as well. Is there a style you prefer?
I mean, you know, it's hard to say. We've gone back and forth. He and I have talked about shooting something that's a little bit more of a format, a treatment I should say. And just doing something fun, but for now the fans really seem to be taking to this ... so we might just call it quits there you know, which is kind of nice and simple.

You've worked with T-Pain on this song and Ludacris on 'How Do You Sleep?' -- who's next?
It's really hard to say, I've really always wanted to, especially in the last year or so, I've always wanted to do something with John Legend or Alicia Keys, something a little more R&B, a little bit more soulful and that's like a goal of mine. So maybe who knows, maybe next album

You're young, successful in Hollywood but your life isn't splashed all over the tabloids. How do you stay grounded?Laughs. I have a good family, good friends, I just like to have a good time. I like what I do, it's fun what I do. I'm pretty low maintenance. I don't really need much and you know I'm actually, to tell you the truth, I just finished a round of golf. I'm enjoying life right now, I just have a really great support system and an amazing team behind me. I'm sort of the face of this operation and there's ... dozens of people working behind me to make it all run and work successfully so I owe a lot of it to them.

As a singer-songwriter and actor, do you feel pressure to succeed – as you have done – in all three?
I honestly don't feel a lot of pressure. I put more pressure on myself more than anything ... when it comes to making a record ... or performing. I don't feel a lot of outside pressure. I try to not let that bother me.

The song is catchy - something I might enjoy if it came on the radio - but I don't think I would go out of my way to actually buy it. Both of their voices are very mellow and they are both talented artists, but this song is a little too commercial for me. Also, I think Jessie is still a very good-looking guy, but I like his hair softer better than the spikey-do he is sporting now.